Ram Mohan (65), a retired assistant engineer of Tangedco, lived on rent in a portion of the house owned by the septuagenarian sisters.

Mohan was an alcoholic and often got into arguments with the sisters. He had been demanding the installation of a separate electricity metre in order to gauge his individual power consumption.

“Early on Sunday, Mohan created a scene over the issue. He was drunk. When Savithri chided him and asked him to return to his portion of the house, he got angry. He grabbed an iron rod that was lying around and attacked her. He also beat her maid, Vanitha (42),” an investigating officer said.

Hearing Savithri’s cries, her sister Vasantha rushed in, but was hit on the head by Mohan. Vasantha sustained severe injuries and bled to death.

Alarmed neighbours rushed Savithri and Vanitha to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital. Their condition is stable, the police said. Following preliminary investigation, the Otteri police arrested Ram Mohan.